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Monday, August 1, 2016

Maggie's First Dance BOM #3

We're back! And guess who is not only your blogger of the moment today, but also the prize sponsor this month? OMG......IT'S ME! And my Mod-ified Trees kit!

So crazy, right? And here you all thought I was just hanging out behind the scenes, putting together my blocks and blogging wittily about the process. But as with all of us, in reality I'm so much more. This post should prove that by the end!

Let's get started on Block #3!

As you can see, mine continues in that blue/yellow/purple/green scrappy theme, and this time adds a touch of whimsy in the form of "I threw this thing together the night before I left for 10 days in Vancouver and Alaska and I didn't even bother to trim it before snapping the photo." But you get the idea. It's (basically) done and awaits only some machine applique thread work and trimming.

I'm going to show you in a second how I went about using the Transdoodle by Mistyfuse with my applique pieces because it might just be my most favorite new notion, but first let's point one thing out....remember my fancy little tip last month about flipping your fabric over and using the "wrong" side if it is just a little "too"? Well, this month my grey fabric was just a little too dark and features that little trick..and if you compare the photo above of the pieced grey pieces with the photo below of the grey piece I used for applique, you can totally see it. It's like two fabrics in one! Who wouldn't love that?

But yeah, on to the Transdoodle! Mistyfuse Iris is one of my sponsors for my Teal Mini Swap (more below) and in addition to sponsoring a blog giveaway, she also was kind enough to throw a Transdoodle in for me because I said I was a little bit fascinated with the idea of it. And then I used it for this block and man, I'm even more so! It's a packet of tracing papers of different colors and tones (dark to light) with a powdery substance (not anthrax) (I'm assuming) on one side which you use to trace your applique shapes onto your fabrics prepared with Mistyfuse. No more #2 pencils and parchment!

So here's what you do. First, rough cut your applique pieces (NOT THE SHAPES!) and fit them together as best you can on a piece of Mistyfuse. I used one about 10" square(ish).

It works much better if you can place the Mistyfuse on parchment first, but it is hard to see the Mistyfuse in the photo when I did that. So here's what it really looks like. I promise the Mistyfuse is there.

Then you are going to want to put a second layer of parchment over the top of the whole thing and press well. The Mistyfuse just kind of melts right into the fabric.

You can either cut your pieces apart once they are all fused, or just leave them together. I opted to leave them together and just line up my shapes with the fabrics I was going to use for them, but either way will work. Do what works best for you.

To transfer the markings, I layered the Transdoodle sheet (I'm using white here, since I started with the flower, which is a dark color) on top of the WRONG SIDE of the fabric (ie the Mistyfuse side)

Then all you have to do is trace with some sort of sharpish/bluntish object that won't make a mark, like a hera tool, a dry ballpoint pen, or raid the "weird tools" slot of your notions box and grab the kabob stick you use for turning tubes. That's what I used.

I of course forgot to take a photo of the flower, but here you can see how the leaf shape turned out when I used the Transdoodle. Pretty cool, huh? Then all you have to do is cut it out and place it!

Thanks Jacquelynne for another lovely little flower block.

Along with Maggie's BOM, I'd like to take a moment to talk about my current project, one that Jacquelynne was kind enough to help me out with by being a blogger and giveaway spot herself last week - My annual Teal Mini Swap. It's a mini swap (natch) and fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and I'm running it for the fifth year to coincide with September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Each year, I've been blessed to have quilters come together from all over the USA to join me in this event. Participants pay $15 to register, $10 of which is donated to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. The rest goes to my expenses, which thanks to the USPS are not insubstantial. Why OCRF? Simply put, they are leading the way in both research and awareness for this deadly horrible disease, and have been doing so ever since my mom was first in treatment 16 years ago. Even 14 years after her death I still receive their newsletters and am amazed by the advances, most of which might have kept her alive long enough to meet her first grandchildren in 2002 had they been available then....but it's still never enough. I don't want more women to be affected. I don't want quilters to have this disease happen to them. I can't prevent it, but I can use my internet presence to make a difference each year. To date, my fundraiser has raised over 7000 dollars (including this year's registrations so far) for OCRF. Sure, it's not millions. But it's a start.

This year's fabric sponsor (I'm big enough for a fabric sponsor, anyway! Woo Hoo!) is Moda, and swappers all receive a piece of this fabric, modeled by me, to be used in the mini they will make for their partner.

Registration began last week, and will continue until August 29. We've already got participants from 44 states and I'd love to turn the whole map teal!

Here's a few of the cool minis swappers received last year. You can see even more by scrolling through our Teal Mini Swap Facebook group. The talent in this group amazes me more every year.

Jacquelynne was lovely to help me out with the kickoff, so please check out her blog too! She just might inspire you. And if you want to register to join the swap, I certainly won't stop you! Let's kick ovarian cancer to the curb and run it over with the car for good measure.

But now back to this month's BOM giveaway, my cute little Mod-ified Trees kit. This silly little pattern is way fun to whip together and takes just an afternoon - FOR REAL! It's almost as much fun to pick out the fabrics, so I love putting together the kits!

It's even a really great pattern when done in country colors, like one customer made!

To enter to win the kit, please leave me a comment telling me if you like the color teal, or if you think teal is the color of gangrene. Or both. I suppose they don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive options! If you don't like teal, do tell me a color or palette you prefer to use instead when you create. We all have our favorites!

Teal, how do I love thee, let me count the ways! Teal, aqua, spa, turquoise.....I love them all, so beachy and fresh and happy!. A realtor once told me that blue eyed people usually have a blue room in their house. That would be me!

I love teal because it goes with so many other colors. I made my granddaughter a quilt using teal, orange, lime, yellow, shocking pink paired with a touch of black. It was made in a Hawaiian theme and it turned out so nice.

I like blues and greens of all kinds, including teal, which I consider kind of a 'cross over' color! Your blog post is full of ideas and products that are new to me -- my head is just spinning! And I LOVE your mod-ified tree pattern -- Trees are another favorite, and I am always a sucker for a new spin on their design. :)

I have to admit, teal is not one of my favorite colors. Maybe it's because it's my sister's favorite and it's all over her house! I do like it mixed with a blue or turquoise. I love turquoise especially with red and cream (very 50's).

I am starting to really like the color teal. My first favorite color is green but like I said I really am starting to like teal. I really like the your block. I love the table runner pattern, it is such a great idea.

Blue in any shade or hue, including the fabulous teal, I look at my pile of batik scraps, and there is so much teal right there.Wish I was in US and could join in the blocks for Ovarian Cancer Research, such a wonderful cause, and like you, I wish medical science could have been advanced enough to treat my Mum with some unknown medical problem. And the misty fuse, I will see if it is available down here in NZ. IT IS !!! , in black or white, I found it now, at one of my favourite places to order online.

The color Teal only works in certain combinations which make it challenging to utilize in quilts or clothing. I do like the color but sometimes don't feel like spending the extra time matching it to pleasing color schemes.

Teal is not one of my favorite colors, but I do like it when paired with red or yellow. I have one shirt in teal and I don't think I look good in that color, but I still like it! My favorite color is purple and I'm always drawn to any shade of it.

I love teal!! Love the work you are doing with cancer! If my sewing room wasn't all packed up because of the tree that fell on it I would give your project a try! Maybe if the house gets repaired soon I could catch up on Maggie's Blocks and others I am (was) working on! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful blocks and products! I can wish, plan and drool over everything!

I love teal! Partly because it reminds me of turquoise and partly because I am so fond of south western colors. Before quilting I did a lot of jewelry making and those were my favorites. If should win this, it will be strictly for me. I usually end up giving away most of my creations, but not this one!!

I absolutely love teal! My closet has a decent amount of clothing items in many different shades of teal. I think it is regal, elegant, majestic....like the color of Royalty. It's a close second behind my many shades of Purple....together, they'd probably look great.

Teal - love it! I'm always looking for that color at the store. Love to pair it with many colors - peach, other greens, a touch of red-brown. Looks fabulous with grey! I'm definitely on your teal-team!

Well, I don't know if teal is the color of gangrene or not as I have never seen gangrene up close and personal--only in pictures. In general, I like teal. As with most colors, there are certain shades or hues of teal that I don't much care for. When I think of teal, I think of Teal Ducks.

Oh goodness, I love the color "teal". For some reason, it brings to my mind "ROYAL" because one of the colors the "royals" use is teal. But I have loved it since I was a small child. Thanks for the opportunity to win something !

(Message received & shared with love)Teal is one of many, magical Mermaid colors...shimmering and sparkling...above the water-below the water, in the sunlight or beneath the gentle illuminaton of the mystical moon. Forever, safely cradled in the arms of my Magical, Mermaid Mother. xx and love

I like to wear teal and like it as a paint color but don't seem to use it in my quilting as much as reds, blues, yellows and greens. Always seem to add a touch of red-orange to everything I can too! But not teal for some reason. What a nice way to remember your mother by raising money in her memory to help others live longer and healthier lives!

i love the color Teal and all the related colors to it.....turquoise and aqua, are there more? My next quilt will be one with orange and aqua. I would use teal but for a toddler so aqua is a better choice. But yep, teal lover for sure! Thanks for the giveaway chance! Helen hrglover at hotmail dot com

I am a traditionalist in most ways, including color. Teal reminds me of mid-century modern, which was in full bloom in my childhood in the 50's. During my growing up, turquoise went out of fashion and I spent my young adulthood in apartments and houses with this color. It spoke of being dated and out of fashion. I can't get over that, and prefer autumn and darker color palettes.

I have never really been a huge fan of teal...kind of a take it or leave it attitude. However, I have designed several pieces in the last couple of years that include it, both for boys and girls, so I can see that it does have a place in many projects. I have always been a color purple (and shades thereof) person, but let's face it, unless I am creating for myself or close family members who have to like it, you can't put purple in everything, especially if you are trying to sell some of your stuff!

I like teal, and I think it is one of those colors that really shines when it is paired with other colors.

I want to tell you how much I appreciate your support of the fight against ovarian cancer. I lost two dear friends to this disease, and another to endometrial cancer (which is closely related). We need more research, more funding, and more awareness. Thank you for your steadfastness in this battle.

I think teal is a pretty color. I've been told that since I have winter skin that I look good in it. It has not been a color I've used in quilts, as I have made them for grandchildren whose favorite colors have been pink, purple, red and black.

I do like teal although I haven't used it in much quilting to this point but I am making a lap quilt now and teal plays a big part. This quilt is a gift and is definitely pushing me past my comfort zone😁. Love your table runner pattern!

I'm not much of a teal fan unless it's in a more muted palette. Bright teal makes me think of Sesame Street characters, and while they're good for kids, I'm more of an earth tones girl. Thanks for the tips on the misty fuse too; I bought some a few months ago and couldn't get it to fuse on my fabric and not in little shreds.

I have always been more of a fall colors girl but I have to admit that the teal is very pretty and I do love all the brighter colors that it blends with. I think it is time to branch out in the color selections!

When you ask if I like the color Teal, I have to think about it. To me it's like the color red. Red can be so many shades... Light reds, deep reds, Cherry reds, Fire Engine Red. So to answer your question, do I like Teal? Depends on the shade of Teal and the project I would be using it in. I love color and I love colors that pop. So yes.

Oh I love teal!!! Years ago when we were all finding out what "our colors" and "season" was, I was so happy teal was one of mine. I had a dress that was teal and when I wore it, people would say that I looked my best in it. So Yeah Teal!

I like my colors clear and saturated. Teal is a color...so Yeah! My favorite colors are red and purple, not together. I am not a red hat club lady. I do have a beautiful red felt hat with a feather though :)

I love teal and having had a brush with gangrene I can only say that I have no memory of it's colour but no shade of teal has ever reminded me of that smell! Happily I still have my foot some 20 years on...

"How many of you would stand up in front of a bunch of quilters and parade all your quilting mistakes? Well, Beth does it with flair!" (Perfection is Overrated Lecture review, Merrimack Valley Quilters, MA)

"A member called me today to tell me you had 'freed her'!" (Jeanne G., President, First Dutchess Quilters, NY)

Obviously I love to quilt and design or I wouldn't officially be EPQD. But a close second love is taking the show on the road with one of my three available lectures, "Perfection is Overrated", "Plays Well With Others", and "Give it a Scrap Slap." Through each in turn I attempt to free the quilting world from the oppression of the Quilt Police, share how adding more quilters to your project enhances the final product, or encourage quilters to step over the fabric line and see that more fabrics and scraps make your quilts sing. All lectures are one hour, contain lots of quilts, and are delivered in my signature irreverent style that reminds us all not to take ourselves too seriously. Lectures available to all guilds and shops in the USA. Check my current schedule by clicking on the Schedule pagein the navigation bar at the top of this blog's home page.